Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection

5 Very Unique and Appropriate Upcycling Ideas for Your Home

1. Upcycled Furniture

Furniture is where many DIYers turn first when it comes to upcycling, simply because there are so many options. Old dressers can be repainted and restructured to become just what your kitchen needs. An ugly coffee table can be turned into a beautiful bench for your entryway. I love the idea of taking an old headboard and transforming it into a chalkboard with hooks that can be used almost anywhere in the home. Beyond The Picket Fence provides an excellent tutorial for this.

2. Upcycled Dresser Drawers

If you’ve decided to upcycle your dresser into extra open storage for the kitchen, bedroom or bathroom, you might be wondering what to do with the drawers. After all, one of the keys to upcycling is to not be wasteful and have extra parts end up a landfill. For pet owners, this is the perfect opportunity to pamper your furry friend. Create a pet bed out of the extra drawers. This is usually a project that is best for cats and smaller dogs. It’s an easy project that shouldn’t take more than an afternoon to complete. See the tutorial from DIY Showoff.

3. Upcycled Doors

Old doors make the perfect upcycling project. They are uniquely shaped and can be transformed into almost any surface. Create a unique coffee table by sizing the door to your desired length and adding some legs on the end. Or, make your bedroom décor pop with an old door headboard. Be careful however, older doors may have lead paint on them which may need to be stripped before creating anything new.

4. Upcycled Glass Bottles

If you’ve been looking for the perfect way to use extra glass bottles, you’re in luck. Upcycling glass bottles is one of the easiest projects you can do. Start by stripping the bottle of any labels that may be on it. You can usually do this by soaking them in hot water for about 20 minutes, then gently scrubbing the label off. From there, you have endless options. Use glass paint to decorate how you’d like. Stick fresh flowers in it to create a vase or a candlestick in the opening for the ultimate DIY centerpiece.

5. Upcycled Chandelier

Over time, chandeliers can become worn and out-of-date. But, they are the perfect canvas to create something new. Chalk paint provides an easy opportunity to transform the piece completely, giving a new look to your light fixture. For outdoor décor, remove all electrical components and use as a hanging planter.

However, chandeliers are hot right now in the interior as well. See this tutorialfrom Mountain Modern Life on how you can dress up an old chandelier.